Centrica (LON:CNA) Trading Down 8.4%

Centrica plc (LON:CNA - Get Free Report) was down 8.4% during trading on Thursday . The company traded as low as GBX 129.30 ($1.67) and last traded at GBX 131 ($1.69). Approximately 708,729,563 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 1,923% from the average daily volume of 35,034,496 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 143.05 ($1.85).

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts recently commented on CNA shares. Barclays cut their target price on Centrica from GBX 205 ($2.65) to GBX 190 ($2.46) and set an "underweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, May 15th. Berenberg Bank upgraded Centrica to a "buy" rating and upped their target price for the company from GBX 130 ($1.68) to GBX 155 ($2.00) in a research report on Friday, June 28th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. restated an "overweight" rating on shares of Centrica in a research report on Friday, July 5th. Royal Bank of Canada upgraded Centrica to an "outperform" rating and upped their target price for the company from GBX 145 ($1.88) to GBX 170 ($2.20) in a research report on Friday, May 31st. Finally, UBS Group upgraded Centrica to a "buy" rating and upped their target price for the company from GBX 165 ($2.13) to GBX 170 ($2.20) in a research report on Wednesday, May 8th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and five have given a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Centrica presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of GBX 171.25 ($2.21).

Centrica Trading Down 9.9 %

The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of GBX 138.44 and a 200-day simple moving average of GBX 135.17. The firm has a market cap of £6.84 billion, a P/E ratio of 186.74, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.45 and a beta of 1.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 96.93, a current ratio of 1.44 and a quick ratio of 0.40.

Centrica Cuts Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, November 14th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, October 3rd will be paid a GBX 1.50 ($0.02) dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 1.05%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, October 3rd. Centrica's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 579.71%.

Insider Transactions at Centrica

In related news, insider Philippe Boisseau acquired 1,163 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 25th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of GBX 139 ($1.80) per share, with a total value of £1,616.57 ($2,090.75). In related news, insider Philippe Boisseau acquired 1,163 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 25th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of GBX 139 ($1.80) per share, with a total value of £1,616.57 ($2,090.75). Also, insider Chris O’Shea acquired 2,785,622 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 17th. The stock was bought at an average cost of GBX 144 ($1.86) per share, with a total value of £4,011,295.68 ($5,187,914.74). Insiders purchased a total of 2,818,817 shares of company stock valued at $404,532,432 over the last ninety days. 0.17% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

About Centrica

Centrica plc operates as an integrated energy company in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Scandinavia, North America, and internationally. The company operates through British Gas Services & Solutions, British Gas Energy, Centrica Business Solutions, Bord Gáis Energy, Centrica Energy, and Upstream segments.